# Atlantic White Cedar (*Chamaecyparis thyoides*)

The Atlantic White Cedar is a beautiful tree that grows near water. It has soft, thin leaves and can live for hundreds of years!

- **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 3
- **Habitat:** Wetlands and swamps
- **Also known as:** Southern Cedar, Swamp Cedar

![Atlantic White Cedar](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426640/objects/4845.jpg)

## Appearance

The Atlantic White Cedar is an evergreen tree with dense, scale-like leaves that are often bluish-green. Its slender, upright trunk is covered in distinctive reddish-brown, peeling bark, creating a shaggy texture. The overall crown is narrow and conical, giving it a tall, elegant appearance.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Pinopsida
- **Order:** Pinales
- **Family:** Cupressaceae
- **Genus:** Chamaecyparis

## Interesting facts

- Ancient cedar logs preserved in bogs have been found to be over 5,000 years old!
- Its wood smells wonderfully spicy and is used for shingles and even pencils!
- Many rare insects and plants can only live in the unique habitats these trees create.
- Native Americans used its strong, flexible bark to make ropes, baskets, and even canoes.

## Special abilities

- **Bog Master:** Atlantic White Cedar can thrive in acidic, waterlogged soils thanks to special roots that handle low oxygen, helping it survive where other trees can't.
- **Waterproof Armor:** Atlantic White Cedar has incredibly rot-resistant wood that helps it endure damp environments for centuries, making it a natural survivor.
- **Forest Architect:** Atlantic White Cedar can grow in dense, single-species stands that shape entire wetland ecosystems, creating unique habitats for many creatures.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 18-30 m
- **Spread:** 3-6 m
- **Edible:** No
- **Size:** 30-150 cm
- **Lifespan:** 100-600 years
- **Fruit Type:** Small woody cones
- **Growth Rate:** Medium
- **Leaf Type:** Evergreen

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on young cedar foliage
- **Shelter:** [Pileated Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pileated-woodpecker) (*Dryocopus pileatus*) — Nests in dead snags and cavities
- **Shelter:** American Black Bear (*Ursus americanus*) — Uses dense stands for cover
- **Depends on:** [Purple Pitcher Plant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/purple-pitcher-plant) (*Sarracenia purpurea*) — Thrives in same acidic bog habitat

## Traits

- [Coniferous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coniferous): Coniferous plants are typically evergreen, bearing needles or scales and reproductive cones.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry.
- [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
- [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.

## Collections

- [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/trees)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Atlantic White Cedar?

Compare leaves or needles, how they attach to the twig, buds, bark and the shape of the crown. Lobed leaves are useful clues, but several unrelated trees share a similar outline. Tree Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Atlantic White Cedar?

18-30 m

### How wide does Atlantic White Cedar spread?

3-6 m

### Is Atlantic White Cedar edible?

No

### How big is Atlantic White Cedar?

30-150 cm

### How long does Atlantic White Cedar live?

100-600 years

### Where is Atlantic White Cedar usually found?

Wetlands and swamps

### What kind of fruit does Atlantic White Cedar produce?

Small woody cones

## Where to spot

- [Singletary Lake State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/singletary-lake-state-park) — North Carolina, US · State Park
- [Jones Lake State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jones-lake-state-park) — North Carolina, US · State Park

## More Trees

- [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*)
- [Sessile Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sessile-oak) (*Quercus petraea*)
- [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*)
- [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*)

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Source: [Atlantic White Cedar: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/atlantic-white-cedar)